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Record your coronavirus diary for future generations

RESIDENTS are being invited to record their experiences and
thoughts about the coronavirus crisis for future generations to study.

County archivist Michael Page said Surrey History Centre is asking people to keep a diary, which they can donate for historical preservation when the pandemic has ended and daily life has returned to some normality.

Jill Hyams, one of the archivists at Surrey History Centre, is keen to receive residents’ recollections of the coronavirus crisis

“These are challenging and exceptional times said Michael. “Few,
if any of us will have experienced such a seismic shift in our daily lives in
so short a time.”.

“Your personal record will be a valuable and fascinating
historical source for future generations, helping them to understand and
appreciate what we are all experiencing today. Your diaries will be invaluable
to future historians who want to see behind the official record.”

The diary does not have to be in written form and can be in
any format, such as sound or video recording, photos or drawings.

“It can be long or short, a daily record or weekly
reflection,” Michael added. “All we ask is that it is an honest reflection of
your emotions and that you share it with us at Surrey History Centre so that it
can become part of the county’s memory, curated and preserved by us for future
generations.

“We are hoping that people of all ages and communities
across the county will take part. We especially encourage children to submit
their diaries as part of an activity with a parent or guardian. It could even
form the basis of a group activity undertaken by your school online as a
virtual classroom activity.”

He said that diaries can be anonymous to maintain personal
privacy. “But it would be helpful to know gender, age and the name of your town
or village or even simply the first part of your postcode.

“You can express your wishes about this when you decide the
time is right to share your diary with us.”

Diaries can be delivered to the history centre in Goldsworth
Road, Woking, when it reopens, sent by mail or submitted by email or by
electronic transfer software.

Lauren Stevens, the
events and promotions officer at Surrey Heritage, said there was already a lot
of interest in the project with families and community groups keen to be
involved.

Lauren said that
some people were relating how they were using the time at home to learn new
skills and take up hobbies.

To contact the Surrey History Centre, email shs@surreycc.gov.uk or write to the project at 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 6ND.